The 2007 North Queensland Cowboys season was the 13th in the club's history. Coached by Graham Murray and captained by Johnathan Thurston, they competed in the NRL's Telstra Premiership. They finished the regular season in 3rd place, falling one game short of the Grand Final after losing to the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles.
Season summary The Cowboys started the 2007 NRL season strongly, winning their first four games. By the halfway point of the season, they were placed inside the top four, despite losing key forward Luke O'Donnell for the season in Round 4.
In August, News Limited sold its majority stake in the club to the Cowboys Leagues Club for just over $2 million. News Limited took over the club in late 2001, helping it through a turbulent and difficult era.
Following five losses from seven games, the Cowboys dropped to 8th place in Round 20. A strong finish to the regular season, in which they won their final five games, saw them finish in 3rd, their highest ever placing at the time. Their first two finals games were played at home, defeating the Canterbury Bulldogs (20–18) and the New Zealand Warriors (49–12), to move within one game of the Grand Final. The Cowboys' season ended the following week, losing to Manly in the preliminary final.
Club legend Paul Bowman retired at the end of the 2007 season. The last foundation player from the club's inaugural season, Bowman played 203 games for the Cowboys over 13 seasons. The club's Player of the Year medal was named in his honour following his retirement. He became an assistant coach with the club in 2008. 2007 also saw the debut of 19-year-old Scott Bolton, who would go on to play over 150 games for the Cowboys and be a member of their 2015 NRL Grand Final and 2016 World Club Challenge winning sides.
Milestones Round 1: Sione Faumuina and Jason Smith made their debuts for the club. Round 3: Justin Smith played his 50th game for the club. Round 4: Scott Bolton made his NRL debut for the club. Round 6: Ben Vaeau made his debut for the club. Round 7: Johnathan Thurston played his 50th game for the club. Round 7: Scott Minto made their debuts for the club. Round 7: Ben Farrar made his NRL debut for the club and scored his first NRL try. Round 9: Brett Anderson made his debut for the club. Round 9: Scott Bolton scored his first NRL try. Round 10: Sam Faust made his NRL debut for the club. Round 11: John Frith made his NRL debut for the club. Round 13: Ty Williams played his 100th game for the club. Round 13: Matthew Bartlett made his debut for the club. Round 13: Jackson Nicolau made his NRL debut for the club. Round 18: Aaron Payne played his 100th game for the club. Round 20: Matthew Bowen played his 150th game for the club. Round 22: Carl Webb played his 50th game for the club. Round 25: Paul Bowman played his 200th game for the club, the first player to do so. Finals Week 2: Jacob Lillyman played his 50th game for the club.
Squad List
Squad Movement
2007 Gains Player Signed from Matthew Bartlett Melbourne Storm Ben Farrar Parramatta Eels Sione Faumuina Warriors Karl Johnson North Sydney Bears Scott Minto Brisbane Broncos Jackson Nicolau Melbourne Storm Jason Smith Canberra Raiders Ben Vaeau Brisbane Broncos Colin Wilkie Melbourne Storm
2007 Losses Player Signed To Clint Amos Gold Coast Titans Jason Barsley Retired Gavin Cooper Gold Coast Titans Mark Dalle Cort Celtic Crusaders Brett Firman Penrith Panthers Josh Hannay Cronulla Sharks Rod Jensen Huddersfield Giants (mid-season) Ben Lowe South Sydney Rabbitohs Brent McConnell Brisbane Broncos Travis Norton Retired Mitchell Sargent Newcastle Knights Matt Sing Hull F.C. Malo Solomona Auckland Lions Daniel Strickland University Saints RLFC Robert Tanielu Retired
Ladder
Fixtures
Pre-season Date Round Opponent Venue Score Tries Goals Attendance17 FebruaryTrial 1 Canberra RaidersBrowne Park10 – 28 - - -24 FebruaryTrial 2 WarriorsLeprechaun Park32 – 14 B. Bowen (2), Bolton, M. Bowen, Payne, Lillyman Thurston (4/6) -3 MarchTrial 3 Manly Sea EaglesBarlow Park10 – 14 Bolton, Justin Smith Thurston (2/2) -
Regular season
Date Round Opponent Venue Score Tries Goals Attendance16 MarchRound 1 Brisbane BroncosSuncorp Stadium23 – 16 Graham (2), M. Bowen, Henry Thurston (3/5), M. Bowen (1 FG) 50,41624 MarchRound 2 Sydney RoostersDairy Farmers Stadium43 – 6 B. Bowen (2), M. Bowen (2), Thurston (2), O'Donnell Thurston (6/6), Graham (1/1), Payne (1 FG) 21,39631 MarchRound 3 St George Illawarra DragonsWIN Stadium22 – 18 B. Bowen, Bowman, Graham, Thurston Thurston (3/4) 10,2327 AprilRound 4 Wests TigersDairy Farmers Stadium25 – 24 Graham (2), M. Bowen, Sweeney Thurston (4/4), M. Bowen (1 FG) 21,87915 AprilRound 5 WarriorsMt Smart Stadium14 – 34 B. Bowen, M. Bowen, Thurston Thurston (1/3) 11,26023 AprilRound 6 South Sydney RabbitohsDairy Farmers Stadium6 – 10 Bowman Thurston (1/1) 17,76828 AprilRound 7 Manly Sea EaglesDairy Farmers Stadium30 – 26 M. Bowen (2), B. Bowen, Farrar, Ja. Smith Thurston (5/6) 18,6827 MayRound 8 Gold Coast TitansCarrara Stadium24 – 10 M. Bowen, Bowman, Jensen Thurston (6/6) 17,80612 MayRound 9 Penrith PanthersDairy Farmers Stadium12 – 22 Anderson, Bolton Thurston (2/2) 17,39319 MayRound 10 Parramatta EelsParramatta Stadium14 – 44 Faumuina, Graham, Minto Graham (1/3) 10,18225 MayRound 11 Canterbury BulldogsSuncorp Stadium26 – 16 M.Bowen (2), Faumuina, Tronc Thurston (5/5) 15,4122 JuneRound 12 Cronulla SharksDairy Farmers Stadium26 – 24 Williams (2), Minto, Scott, Sweeney Thurston (3/5) 20,0759 JuneRound 13 Sydney RoostersSydney Football Stadium30 – 64 M. Bowen (2), Bartlett, Southern, Tronc Graham (5/5) 4,18616 JuneRound 14 Melbourne StormDairy Farmers Stadium12 – 58 B. Bowen, M. Bowen, William Thurston (0/3) 20,02323 JuneRound 15 Canberra RaidersCanberra Stadium28 – 24 B. Bowen (2), M. Bowen (2), Thurston Thurston (4/5) 11,263Round 16Bye7 JulyRound 17 WarriorsDairy Farmers Stadium18 – 12 Sione Faumuina, Graham, Webb Thurston (2/2), Graham (1/1) 19,86413 JulyRound 18 Brisbane BroncosDairy Farmers Stadium16 – 24 Graham (2), M. Bowen Graham (2/3) 25,92622 JulyRound 19 South Sydney RabbitohsTelstra Stadium14 – 20 M. Bowen, Graham, Minto Thurston (1/3) 10,02230 JulyRound 20 Wests TigersLeichhardt Oval10 – 54 Bartlet, Ju. Smith Thurston (1/2) 17,1014 AugustRound 21 Canberra RaidersDairy Farmers Stadium28 – 22 Farrar (2), Graham, M. Bowen, Thurston Graham (2/5), Thurston (0/1) 15,79113 AugustRound 22 Penrith PanthersCUA Stadium30 – 26 Graham (3), B. Bowen, M. Bowen, Ju. Smith Thurston (3/5) 7,61818 AugustRound 23 St George Illawarra DragonsDairy Farmers Stadium24 – 14 M. Bowen, Bowman, Cashmere, Ja. Smith Thurston (4/4) 18,72124 AugustRound 24 Newcastle KnightsEnergyAustralia Stadium34 – 18 Graham (2), M. Bowen, Sweeney, Thurston, Williams Thurston (5/6) 12,26431 AugustRound 25 Canterbury BulldogsDairy Farmers Stadium38 – 32 Farrar, Williams, Ju. Smith, Thurston Thurston (7/7) 24,050 Legend:
Finals
Date Round Opponent Venue Score Tries Goals Attendance8 SeptemberQualifying Final Canterbury BulldogsDairy Farmers Stadium20 – 18 Thurston (2), Bowman Thurston (4/4) 24,00416 SeptemberSemi Final WarriorsDairy Farmers Stadium49 – 12 Farrar (2), M. Bowen, Cashmere, Graham, Henry, Ja. Smith, Williams Thurston (7/7), Bowman (1/1), M. Bowen (1 FG) 21,48722 SeptemberPreliminary Final Manly Sea EaglesSFS6 – 28 Lillyman Thurston (1/1) 32,611 Legend:
Statistics NameAppTGFGPts11--4132--861--4169--362722-3912151-22242--820----117--28183--1213----1----221812-96102--861--4211--4143--123----1----41--427--11231--4203--12243--12191--4113--12251078-196172--88----181--4157--28 Totals 109 91 4 622 Source:
Representatives The following players played a representative match in 2007
ANZAC Test State of Origin 1 State of Origin 2 State of Origin 3 Trans-Tasman TestMatthew Bowen David Faiumu Jacob Lillyman Johnathan Thurston Carl Webb
Honours
League Dally M Medal: Johnathan Thurston Dally M Fullback of the Year: Matthew Bowen Dally M Halfback of the Year: Johnathan Thurston Rugby League Week Player of the Year: Matthew Bowen Rugby League Week Player of the Year: Johnathan Thurston
Club Paul Bowman Medal: Matthew Bowen Player's Player: Matthew Bowen Club Person of the Year: Tim Nugent and Nicole Balanzategui Rookie of the Year: Sam Faust Most Improved: Ashley Graham and Ray Cashmere
Feeder Clubs
Queensland Cup North Queensland Young Guns - 1st, lost preliminary final
References
External links Official North Queensland Cowboys Website